Kelly Ayotte, rising Republican star?

Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire is viewed as a rising star in the Republican Party, but if her appearance at the conservative CPAC conference is any indication, she’s got a lot of work to do.

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Sen. Kelly Ayotte

The 44-year-old senator from New Hampshire launched a broadside on Friday against the foreign policy of President Barack Obama, calling his approach to Al-Qaida soft and the assassination of the American ambassador in Benghazi a “serious failure.”

The sound of cannon fire was absent, however. Ayotte’s slow, halting speaking style did little to excite the crowd and Ayotte herself couldn’t rouse herself until the very end of her speech.

Perhaps it was the hour of the day. Ayotte was one of the first speakers early in the morning. And the subject matter, foreign policy, is less likely to fire up the political base of either Republicans or Democrats.

Ayotte has worked to raise her profile since joining the Senate in 2011 by showing off her foreign-policy chops. She’s often see with Sen. John McCain of Arizona or South Carolina’s Lindsey Graham, who often try to take the party lead on matters of national security.

Her close relationship with McCain and Lindsey could be a double-edged sword, however. The two men have frequently riled up conservatives on domestic issues such as immigration on which they are more willing to compromise with Democrats.

To further boost her national profile Ayotte will have to set herself apart on domestic matters – and perhaps watch a few more videos of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, the Republican party’s most dynamic speaker.